"Everything's big in Texas!." This phrase has always bothered me a little. I always associated it with the Machismo sentiment that goes with the saying, "Don't Mess With Texas." Texas is known for big hats, big football stadiums, big steaks and big personalities. My grandpa moved all the way from Illinois to Lake Livingston just outside of Houston just to catch BIG FISH. This week, however, we learned that the biggest things is Texas are Texas sized hearts.

While the brave soldiers of the National Guard were still getting their boots on, Texas had formed a make shift Navy of bass boats and wave runners captained by people with names like Bubba and Beau. No disrespect to the Red Cross or the National Guard, but Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists, Presbyterians, Catholics, and Church of Christ folk were feeding, clothing, and providing shelter under the cross of Christ while the rain was still falling and the wind was still blowing. Don't get me wrong, The military and other International Service agencies have been of great assistance. But Texans don't wait. Their response has been as epic as the storm itself.

For me, this event is personal. My dear friends Paul and Delia Russel who pastor Christ Family Church in the Houston area are caught in the crosshairs of needing assistance themselves, while they are helping to relieve the suffering of others. They are facing a Texas sized challenge with very limited resources. . I'm inviting everyone to help me support Christ Family Church during this most difficult season.

Paul serves as an overseer of the church I pastor in Knoxville Christ Family Church has financially supported our church since our launch. They continue to support us to this day. Paul and Delia left a very successful ministry in a mega church in Nashville Tennessee to plant Christ Family in Houston a decade ago. It is our turn to help them. Church start ups struggle to make budget during the best of times. They were not even able convene for worship last Sunday which means zero income. Paul shared with me that things feel very fragile right now. In spite of their own needs, they are partnering with another church as a Red Cross relief center. We are setting up a link through Givelify for people to give to Christ Family Church who will distribute the funds as needed to people in their area. The link is at the bottom of this page. When you choose your donation amount, it will then allow you to designate it to the Texas flood relief. If you are looking for a place to give, Pastor Paul has a Texas sized heart for his city and they need our help desperately right now. Would you join me in being a part of the miracle? One hundred percent of the funds will go directly to Christ Family Church to disperse as needed. Would you join me in giving to this worthy cause?

The Gospel of Mark the fourth chapter records a storm that threatened the life of Jesus and his disciples. The greek word used to describe the storm is "megalay". It is where we get our English word "mega". Jesus was asleep during the storm while the disciples were panicking. When they feared they would all die, they woke Jesus up. Jesus spoke to the storm as if it was disturbing his nap and said, "Peace be still" Afterward, the Bible says there was a "megalay" calm. The same word used to describe the storm was the word used to describe the calm. The mega storm was met with a mega calm.

Hurricane Harvey is a storm of Biblical proportions. The response, needs to be as epic as the storm. The recovery will be long and arduous. In a time when our country is suffering from the wounds of division, this storm reminds that we are "one nation under God" and we need one another. If we each do our part, Hurricane Harvey will be remembered more for our response than the devastation that it brought.

Christ Family Church

Paul and Delia Russel

Dr. Phil Nordstrom

I am the husband of my best friend Melanie, the father of three "above average" children and the Lead Pastor of an amazing diverse congregation in North Knoxville. ​Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

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Life Church Knoxville

We're an inter denominational church in Knoxville, Tennessee that believes that all people matter and should experience the love and power that comes along with a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ.

We're a non-denominational Christian church in Knoxville, Tennessee that believes that all people matter and should experience the love and power that comes along with a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ.